Short bio

Historical fiction writer Shannon Selin is the author of Napoleon in America, which imagines what might have happened if Napoleon Bonaparte had escaped from exile on St. Helena and wound up in the United States in 1821. Shannon blogs about Napoleonic and 19th century history at shannonselin.com. She lives in Vancouver, Canada, where she is working on the next novel in her Napoleon series.

Long bio

Shannon Selin was born and raised in the small town of Biggar, Saskatchewan (“New York is big, but this is Biggar”). Her father was a history teacher, so she grew up immersed in history books and spent her holidays tramping around battlefields, graveyards and museums. Her early obsessions included Vikings, the Tudors and the Statue of Liberty.

Shannon always knew she would write novels, but the need to make a living and raise a family came first. She worked at jobs that involved a lot of non-fiction writing, including university research, technical writing and working for the Canadian government.

Realizing that she needed to do what she always wanted to do, Shannon now writes historical fiction full time. Her short stories have appeared in The Copperfield Review and CommuterLit, and she is a contributor to Military History Now. Her novel, Napoleon in America, imagines what might have happened if Napoleon Bonaparte had escaped from St. Helena and wound up in the United States in 1821. Shannon blogs about Napoleonic and 19th century history at shannonselin.com.

Shannon has a BA in Political Science from the University of Saskatchewan and an MA in Political Science from the University of British Columbia. She lives with her family in Vancouver, Canada, where she is working on the next novel in her Napoleon series.

“A fantastic read for fans of French history and those who like ‘what if’ kind of stories; any fan of Napoleon will want to read this, too, and imagine a world where this might have happened. Those new to speculative fiction should give this a try – it’s dangerously addictive!” – Unabridged Chick

“[A] thoughtful and totally believable account…. The author weaves…a rich and convincing tapestry, and does so with such subtlety and skill that the reader often finds himself wondering just what parts are real and what parts are not.” – The Napoleonic Historical Society

“We get insight into the kind of man that Napoleon was, the things he cares about, and his thoughts on his relationships with others…. The book had a really good flow!” – A Bookish Affair

“Napoleon in America…reads like a very well-written narrative of history. Given that the author is necessarily working with an entirely fictional world…the fact that she can create such an effect is quite remarkable.” – The Literary Lawyer

Napoleon in America cover photos

Short Napoleon in America synopsis

What if Napoleon Bonaparte had escaped from St. Helena and wound up in the United States in 1821?

Long Napoleon in America synopsis

What if Napoleon Bonaparte had escaped from St. Helena and wound up in the United States in 1821?

Former French Emperor Napoleon has been imprisoned on a dark wart in the Atlantic since his defeat at Waterloo in 1815. Rescued in a state of near-death by Gulf pirate Jean Laffite, Napoleon lands in New Orleans, where he struggles to regain his health aided by voodoo priestess Marie Laveau. Opponents of the Bourbon regime expect him to reconquer France. French Canadians beg him to seize Canada from Britain. American adventurers urge him to steal Texas from Mexico. His brother Joseph pleads with him to settle peacefully in New Jersey. As Napoleon restlessly explores his new land, he frets about his legacy. He fears for the future of his ten-year-old son, trapped in the velvet fetters of the Austrian court. While the British, French and American governments follow his activities with growing alarm, remnants of the Grande Armée flock to him with growing anticipation. Are Napoleon’s intentions as peaceful as he says they are? If not, does he still have the qualities necessary to lead a winning campaign?

Book details

Title: Napoleon in America

Author: Shannon Selin

Publisher: Dry Wall Publishing

Publication date: January 2014

List price: US$15.95 (Paperback), US$25.95 (Hardcover)

ISBN-10: 0-9921275-0-5 (Paperback), 0-9921275-1-3 (Hardcover)

ISBN-13: 978-0-9921275-0-3 (Paperback), 978-09921275-1-0 (Hardcover)

Pages: 312

Book excerpt

Book trailer

A fantastic read for fans of French history and those who like ‘what if’ kind of stories; any fan of Napoleon will want to read this, too, and imagine a world where this might have happened. Those new to speculative fiction should give this a try – it’s dangerously addictive!

Unabridged Chick

Latest book: Napoleon in America

What if Napoleon Bonaparte had escaped from St. Helena and wound up in the United States? Kirkus Reviews calls the first book in Shannon’s Napoleon series “evocative and immersive.”